KING

My life it self, and the best heart of it, Thanks you for this great care: I stood in the level Of a full-charged confederacy, and give thanks To you that choked it. Let be called before us That Gentleman of Buckingham's, in person, I'll hear him his confessions justify, And point by point the Treasons of his Master, He shall again relate. Arise, and take place by us; half your Suit Never name to us; you have half our power: The other moiety ere you ask is given, Repeat your will, and take it. The fairest hand I ever touched: Oh Beauty, Till now I never knew thee. What's the needs? It hath already publicly be read, And on all sides the Authority allowed, You may then spare that time. Here. What piles of wealth hath he accumulated To his own portion? And what expense by' the hour Seems to flow from him? How, in the name of Thrift Does he rake this together? Now my Lords, Saw you the Cardinal? It may well be, There is a mutiny in's mind. This morning, Papers of State he sent me, to peruse As I required: and wot you what I found There (on my Conscience put unwittingly) Forsooth and Inventory, thus importing The several parcels of his Plate his Treasure, Rich Stuffs and Ornaments of Household, which I find at such proud Rate, that it out-speakes Possession of a Subject. If we did think His Contemplation w re above the earth, And fixed on Spiritual object, he should still Dwell in his Musings, but I am afraid His Thinkings are below the Moon, not worth His serious considering. Good my Lord, You are full of Heavenly stuff, and bear the Inventory Of your best Graces, in your mind; the which You were now running over: you have scarce time To steal from Spiritual leisure, a brief span To keep your earthly Audit, sure in that I deem you and ill Husband, and am galled To have you therein my Companion. You have said well. It's well said again, And it's a kind of good deed to say well, And yet words are no deeds. My Father loved you, He said he did, and with his deed did Crown His word upon you. Since I had my Office, I have kept you next my Heart, have not alone Employed you where high Profits might come home, But pared my present Havings, to bestow My Bounties upon you. Have I not made you The prime man of the State? I pray you tell me. If what I now pronounce, you have found true And if you may confess it, say withal If you are bound to us, or no. What say you? Fairly answered: A Loyal, and obedient Subject is Therein illustrated, the Honour of it Does pay the Act of it, as in the contrary The fowlenesse is the punishment. I presume, That as my hand ha opened Bounty to you, My heart dropped Love, my pour rained Honour, more On you, then any: So your Hand, and Heart, Your Brain, and every Function of your power, Should, notwithstanding that your bound of duty, As 'twer in Loves particular, be more To me your Friend, then any. It's Nobly spoken: Take notice Lords, he ha a Loyal breast, For you have seen him open't. Read over this, And after this, and then to Breakfast with What appetite you have. Charles, I will play no more to night, My minds not on't, you are too hard for me. But little Charles, Nor shall not when my Fancies on my play. Now Lovel, from the Queen what is the News. What say Would? To pray for her? Wha e crying out? Alas good Lady. It's midnight Charles, Prithee to bed, and in thy Prayres remember the estate of my poor Queen. Leave me alone For I must think of that, which company Would not be friendly too. Charles good night. Well Sir, what follows? Would? Canterbury? It's true: where is he Denny ? Bring him to Us. Avoid the Gallery. Would? I have said. Be gone. What? How now my Lord? You do desire to know wherefore I sent for you. Pray you arise My good and gracious Lord of Canterbury: Come, you and I must walk a turn together: I have News to tell you. Come, come, give me your hand. Ah my good Lord, I grieve at what I speak, And am right sorry to repeat what follows. I have, and most unwillingly of late Herd many grievous. I do say my Lord Grievous complaints of you; which being considered, Have moved Us, and our Council, that you shall This Morning come before us, where I know You cannot with such freedom purge your self, But that till further Trial, in those Charges Which will require your Answer, you must take Your patience to you, and be well contented To make your house our Tower: you, a Brother of us It fits we thus proceed, or else no witness Would come against you. Stand up, good Canterbury, Thy Truth, and thy Integrity is rooted In us thy Friend. Give me thy hand, stand up, Prithee let's walk. Now by my Holydame, What manner of man are you? My Lord, I looked You would have given me your Petition, that I should have taken some pains, to bring together Your self, and your Accusers, and to have herd you Without endurance further. Know you not How your state stands in the world, with the whole world? Your Enemies are many, and not small; their practises Must bear the same proportion, and not ever The Justice and the Truth of the question carries The Due of the Verdict with it; at what case Might corrupt minds procure, Knaves as corrupt To swear against you: Such things have be done. You are Potently opposed, and with a Malice Of as great Size. Ween you of better luck, I mean in perjured Witness, then your Master, Whose Minister you are, while here he lived Upon this naughty Earth? Go too, go too, You take a Precepit for no leap of danger, And woe your own destruction. Be of good cheer, They shall no more prevail, then we give way too: Keep comfort to you, and this Morning see You do appear before them. If they shall chance In charging you with matters, to commit you: The best persuasions to the contrary Fail not to use, and with what vehemency the occasion shall instruct you. If entreaties Will render you no remedy, this Ring Deliver them, and your Appeal to us There make before them. Look, the goodman weeps: He's honest on mine Honour. Gods blessed Mother, I swear he is truehearted, and a soul None better in my Kingdom. Get you gone, And do as I have bid you. He ha strangled his Language in his tears. Now by thy looks I guess thy Message. Is the Queen delivered? Say I, and of a boy. Lovel. Give her and hundred Marks. I'll to the Queen. What's that Buts ? Lady mine proceed. Taxation? Wherein? and what Taxation? My Lord Cardinal, You that are blamed for it alike with us, Know you of this Taxation? Still Exaction: The nature of it, in what kind let's know, Is this Exaction? By my life, This is against our pleasure. Things done well, And with a care, exempt themselves from fear: Things done without example, in their issue Are to be feared. Have you a President Of this Commission? I believe, not any. We must not rend our Subjects from our Laws, And stick them in our Will. Sixth partly of each? A trembling Contribution; why we take From every Tree, lop, bark, and partly of the Timber: And though we leave it with a root thus hacked, The Air will drink the Sap. To every County Where this is questioned, send our Letters, with Free pardon to each man that has deny'de The force of this Commission: pray look too't; I put it to your care. It grieves many: The Gentleman is Learned, and a most rare Speaker, To Nature none more bound; his training such, That he may furnish and instruct great Teachers, And never seek for aid out of himself: yet see, When these so Noble benefits shall prove Not well disposed, the mind growing once corrupt, They turn to vicious forms, ten times more ugly Then ever they were fair. This man so complete, Who was enrolled amongst wonders; and when we Almost with ravished listening, could not find His hour of speech, a minute: He, (my Lady) Hath into monstrous habits put the Graces That once were his, and is become as black, As if besmeared in hell. Fit by Us, you shall hear (This was his Gentleman in trust) of him Things to strike Honour sad. Bid him recount The forerecited practises, whereof We cannot feel too little, hear too much. Speak freely. Speak on; How grounded he his Title to the Crown Upon our fail; to this point hast thou herd him, At any time speak ought? What was that Henton ? How knowest thou this? Let him on: Go forward. Would? What, so rank? Ah, would, There's mischief in this man; canst thou say further? Proceed. I remember of such a time, being my sworn sir vant, The Duke retained him his. But on: what hence? A Giant Traitor. Ther's something more would out of thee; what sayest? There's his perjod, To sheath his knife in us: he is attached, Call him to present trial: if he may Find mercy in the Law, it's his; if none, Let him not seek't of us; By day and night He's Traitor to the height. You have found him Cardinal, You hold a fair Assembly; you do well Lord: You are a Churchman, or I'll tell you Cardinal, I should judge now unhappily. My Lord Chamberlain, Prithee come hither, what fair Lady's that? By Heaven she is a dainty one. Sweet heart, I were unmannerly to take you out, And not to kiss you. A health Gentlemen, Let it go round. I fear too much. Led in your Ladies every one: Sweet Partner, I must not yet forsake you: Let's be merry, Good my Lord Cardinal: I have half a dozen healths, To drink to these fair Ladies, and a measure To led they once again, and then let's dream Who's best in favour. Let the Music knock it. Who's there? Would? Who's there I say? How dare you thrust your selves Into my private Meditations? Who am I? Would? You are too bold: Go too; I'll make you know your times of business: Is this and hour for temporal affairs? Would? Who's there? my good Lord Cardinal? Oh my Wolsey, The quiet of my wounded Conscience; Thou art a cure fit for a King; you're welcome Most learned Reverend Sir, into our Kingdom, Use us, and it: My good Lord, have great care, I be not found a Talker. We are busy; go. And once more in mine arms I bid him welcome, And thank the holy Conclave for their loves, They have sent me such a Man, I would have wished for. Two equal men: The Queen shall be acquain ted Forth with for what you come. Where's Gardener? I, and the best she shall have; and my favour To him that do best, God forbid else: Cardinal, Prithee call Gardener to me, my new Secretary. I find him a fit fellow. Come hither Gardener. Deliver this with modesty to the Queen. The most convenient place, that I can think of For such receipt of Learning, is Blackfriars: There you shall meet about this weighty business. My Wolsey, see it furnished, Oh my Lord, Would it not grieve and able man to leave So sweet a Bedfellow? But Conscience, Conscience; Oh it's a tender place, and I must leave her. Call her again. Go thy ways Kate, That man in the world, who shall report he ha A better Wife, let him in nought be trusted, For speaking false in that; thou art alone (If thy rare qualities, sweet gentleness, Thy meekness Saintlike, Wifelike Government, Obeying in commanding, and thy parts Sovereign and Piousels, could speak thee out) The Queen of earthly Queens: She's Noble born; And Like her true Nobility, she ha Carried her self towards me. My Lord Cardinal, I do excuse you; yea, upon mine Honour, I free you from't: You are not to be taught That you have many enemies, that know not Why they are so; but Like to Village Curs, Bark when their fellows do. By some of these The Queen is put in anger; you are excused: But will you be more iustifi'de? You ever Have wished the sleeping of this business, never desired It to be stirred; but oft have hindered, oft The passages made towards it; on my Honour, I speak my good Lord Cardnall, to this point; And thus far clear him. Now, what moved me too't, I will be bold with time and your attention: Then mark the inducement. Thus it came; give heed too't: My Conscience first received a tenderness, Scruple, and prick, on certain Speeches uttered By the Bishop of Bayon, then French Ambassador, Who had been hither sent on the debating And Marriage betwixt the Duke of Orleans, and Our Daughter Marry: In the Progress of this business, Ere a determinate resolution, he (I mean the Bishop) did require a respite, Wherein he might the King his Lord advertise, Whither our Daughter were legitimate, Respecting this our Marriage with the Dowager, Sometime our Brother's Wife. This respite shook The bosom of my Conscience, entered me; Yea, with a spitting power, and made to tremble The region of my Breast, which forced such way, That many mazed considerings, did throng And pressed in with this Caution. First, me thought I stood not in the smile of Heaven, who had Commanded Nature, that my Ladies womb If it conceived a male-child by me, should Do no more Offices of life too't; then The Grave does to the dead: For her Male Issue, Or died where they were made, ot shortly after This world had aired them. Hence I took a thought, This was a Judgement on me, that my Kingdom (Well worthy the best Heir of the World) should not Be gladded in't by me. Then follows, that I weighed the danger which my Realms stood in By this my Issues fail, and that gave to me Many a groaning throw: thus hulling in The wild Sea of my Conscience, I did steer Towards this remedy, whereupon we are Now present here together: that's to say, I meant to rectify my Conscience, which I then did feel full sick, and yet not well, By all the Reverend Father's of the Land, And Doctors learned. First I began in private, With you my Lord of Lincoln ; you remember How under my oppression I did reek When I first moved you. I have spoke long, be pleased your self to say How far you satisfied me. I then moved you, My Lord of Canterbury, and God your leave To make this present Summons unsolicited. I left no Reverend Person in this Court; But by particular consent proceeded Under your hands and Seals; therefore go on, For no dislike in the world against the person Of the good Queen; but the sharp thorny points Of my alleged reasons, drives this forward: Prove but our Marriage lawful, by my Life And Kingly Dignity, we are contented To wear our mortal State to come, with her, ( Katherine our Queen) before the primest Creature That's Parragon'd of the World I may perceive These Cardinals trifle with me: I abhor This dilatory sloth, and tricks of Room. My learned and well-beloved Servant Cranmer, Prithee return, with thy approach: I know, My comfort comes along: break up the Court; I say, set on. Body a me: where is it? Would? It's he indeed. Is this the Honour they do one another? It's well there's one above they yet; I had thought They had parted so much honesty among they, At least good manners; as not thus to suffer A man of his Place, and so near our favour To dance attendance on their Lordship's pleasures, And at the door too, Like a Post with Packets: By holy Marry (Butts) there's knavery; Let they alone, and draw the Curtain close: We shall hear more anon. You were ever good at sudden Commendations, Bishop of Winchester. But know I come not To hear such flattery now, and in my presence They are too thin, and base to hide offences, To me you cannot reach. You play the Spaniel, And think with wagging of your tongue to win me: But whatsoever thou takest me for; I'm sure Thou hast a cruel Nature and a bloody. Good man fit down: Now let me see the proudest He, that dares most, but wag his finger at thee. By all that's holy, he had better starve, Then but once think his place becomes thee not. No Sir, it doe's not please me, I had thought, I had had men of some understanding, And wisdom of my Council; but I find none: Was it discretion Lords, to let this man, This good man (few of you deserve that Title) This honest man, wait Like a lousy Footboy At Chamber door? and one, as great as you are? Why, what a shame was this? Did my Commission Bid you so far forget your selves? I gave you Power, as he was a Counselor to try him, Not as a Groom: There's some of you, I see, More out of Malice then Integrity, Would try him to the utmost, had you mean, Which you shall never have while I live. Well, well my Lords respect him, Take him, and use him well; he's worthy of it. I will say thus much for him, if a Prince May be beholding to a Subject; I Am for his love and service, so to him. Make memo more ado, but all embrace him; Be friends for shame my Lords: My Lord of Canterbury I have a Suit which you must not deny me. That is, a fair young Maid that yet wants Baptism, You must be Godfather, and answer for her. Come, come my Lord, you'd spare your spoons; You shall have two noble Partners with you: the old Duchess of Norfolk, and Lady Marquess Dorset ? will these please you? Once more my Lord of Winchester, I charge you Embrace, and love this man. Good Man, those joyful tears show thy true hearts, The common voice I see is verified Of thee, which says thus: Do my Lord of Canterbury A shrewd turn, and he's your friend for ever: Come Lords, we trifle time away: I long To have this young one made a Christian. As I have made you one Lords, one remain: So I grow stronger, you more Honour gain. Thank you good Lord Archbishop: What is her Name? Stand up Lord, With this Kiss, take my Blessing: God protect thee, Into whose hand, I give thy Life. My Noble Gossips, you have been too Prodigal; I thank you heartily: So shall this Lady, When she ha so much English. Thou speakest wonders. Oh Lord Archbishop Thou hast made me now a man, never before This happy Child, did I get any thing. This Oracle of comfort, ha so pleased me, That when I am in Heaven, I shall desire To see what this Child does, and praise my Maker. I thank you all. To you my good Lord Mayor, And you good Brothers, I am much beholding: I have received much Honour by your presence, And you shall find me thankful. Led the way Lords, You must all see the Queen, and she must thank you, She will be sick else. This day, no man think Has business at his house; for all shall stay: This Little-One shall make it Holiday.